Abstract: A condenser equipped with a receiver includes an inlet portion for refrigerant of the receiver opening in an axial direction of the receiver; an outlet portion for refrigerant of the condenser communicating with the inlet portion of the receiver; and an insertion portion provided on either the inlet portion or the outlet portion. The insertion portion is inserted into the outlet portion or the inlet portion, and the inlet portion and the outlet portion are brought into contact with each other to make a gastight condition between the inlet portion and the outlet portion. In this structure, the workability for attaching the receiver to the condenser and detaching the receiver from the condenser may be improved. Moreover, the strength for fixing the receiver to the condenser may be increased.

Abstract: A multi-flow type heat exchanger includes a pair of headers and a plurality of heat transfer tubes interconnecting the headers. The flow direction of the heat exchange medium through the whole of the heat transfer tubes is only one direction. A flow division parameter &ggr; is defined as a ratio of a resistance parameter &bgr; of the heat transfer tubes to a resistance parameter &agr; of an entrance side header and is set to at least about 0.5. The flow division parameter is calculated, such that &ggr;=&bgr;/&agr;, where &bgr;=Lt/(Dt·n), and &agr;=Lh/Dh. The equation variables are defined as follows: Lt equals a length of each tube, Dt equals a hydraulic diameter of one tube, n equals a number of tubes, Lh equals a length of an entrance side header, and Dh equals a hydraulic diameter of the header. The flow division from the header to the tubes may be chosen at an optimum condition, and the heat exchanger may have superior performance.

Abstract: A plurality of tubes (3) for flowing a heat transfer tedium, a plurality of fins (4), and tanks (1) connected to the tubes (3) is provisionally assembled. Each of the tubes (3) comprises a pair of formed plates (3a, 3b) coupled to each other. Each of the formed plates (3a, 3b) has a peripheral portion (20) and a plurality of protrusions (14) formed on an inside thereof and having through-holes in top ends thereof. The outer surface of the provisional assembly is coated with a noncorrosive flux (40) in an amount rate of 3 g/m.sup.2 or more on the base of the total area of the outer surfaces and inner surfaces of the tanks, fins and tubes. Then, the provisional assembly is subjected to a brazing treatment. The noncorrosive flux (40) is melted and flows to penetrate into the inside of the tubes (3) through the through-holes (45, 18a) to bond the paired formed plates to each other.

Abstract: In a distribution device (1) including a distribution tank (3) supplied with a mixed-phase medium consisting essentially of a gas-phase medium and a liquid-phase medium, and a plurality of distribution paths (4), each of which has a medium inlet port and a medium outlet port coupled to the distribution tank and a heat exchanger, respectively, and which are for directing the mixed-phase medium from the distribution tank to the heat exchanger, the medium inlet ports of the plurality of distribution paths are coupled to the distribution tank substantially along an equal void ratio line defined by connecting those points of the distribution tank which are equal in a void ratio to each other, where the void ratio is defined as a ratio of the volume of the gas-phase medium to the volume of both the gas-phase medium and the liquid-phase medium. Typically, the medium outlet ports of the distribution paths are coupled to a plurality of exchanger tubes of the heat exchanger, respectively.

Abstract: In a heat exchanger (1) including first through M-th tube groups, each tube group comprising at least one exchanger tube (10), and a distribution device (3) which has a distribution tank (30) supplied with a medium and first through M-th distribution paths (31, 32, and 33) for directing the medium from the distribution tank to the first through the M-th tube groups, respectively, medium inlet ports of the first through the M-th distribution paths are coupled to first through M-th regions of the distribution tank that have first through M-th void ratios different to each other. Medium outlet ports of the first through the M-th distribution paths are coupled to the exchanger tubes of the first through the M-th tube groups, respectively.

Abstract: A laminated type evaporator for an automotive air conditioning refrigerant circuit includes a plurality of tube units having a pair of tray-shaped plates. Each tray shaped plate includes a shallow depression defined therein, a flange extending about the periphery thereof, and wall disposed at an intermediate location therein and extending a portion of the length of each plate to thereby define a left side and a right side to each plate. A first plate in the pair includes a plurality of projections formed in its shallow depression. The second plate in the pair includes a plurality of projections formed in its shallow depression. The plurality of projections in the first and second plates are engaged by, e.g., inserting one into the other, so that the plates are secured against lateral and radial relative movement.

Abstract: A laminated type evaporator for an automotive air conditioning refrigerant circuit is disclosed. The evaporator includes a plurality of tube units having a pair of tray-shaped plates. A pair of conduits for distributing the refrigerant to the interior region of each of the tube units and for receiving the refrigerant from the interior region of each of the tube units are connected to the top surface of the tube units. Communication between the plurality of tube units is obtained through separately formed conduits, thereby obviating the need to form an internal passageway during the formation of the tray-shaped plates and thus simplifying the manufacturing process of the evaporator.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a plurality of integrally assembled heat-exchanger cores each comprising a pair of header pipes, a plurality of flat heat-transfer tubes and a plurality of fins. A heat medium flows from an inlet tube connected to one of the header pipes to an outlet tube connected to another one of the header pipes through the plurality of heat-exchanger cores communicating with one another. The heat-transfer area of the heat exchanger can be increased without increasing the diameters of its header pipes, to thereby increase the total heat-exchange ability of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A heat exchanger having a pair of header pipes and at least one of the header pipes including at least one dividing wall which extends in the longitudinal direction of the header pipe and divides the cavity of the header pipe into at least two chambers. A plurality of slots are longitudinally spaced along the header pipes. An inlet tube is connected to one of the header pipes. An outlet tube is also connected to one of the header pipes. A plurality of fluid tubes are disposed between the header pipes and each fluid tube has a plurality of partition walls for defining fluid paths in fluid communication with the header pipes through the slots. A plurality of corrugated fins are disposed between opposed surfaces of the fluid tubes. Thus, the heat-exchanging efficiency of the heat exchanger increases and, in addition, the heat exchanger is able to balance the amount of the heat-exchanging and the pressure loss.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a pair of header pipes, tubes disposed between the header pipes, and radiation fins provided along the tubes. Each of the header pipes has a plurality of connection holes for the tubes. Each of the header pipes is formed by bending a longitudinal flat plate in the form of a pipe and connecting the side edge portions of the bent plate to each other. The side edge portions of the bent longitudinal plate have connecting portions which are connected to each other with a junction area larger than the cross-sectional area defined by the thickness and length of each header pipe at a position other than the side edge portions. The connection holes are processed before the longitudinal flat plate is bent, and therefore, can be easily and precisely formed at desired positions. The manufacture of the heat exchanger can be simplified and the cost for the manufacture can be reduced.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a header pipe of a heat exchanger wherein a planar raw plate is bent to have a U-shaped cross section in a first bending step. Connection holes to which heat exchanger tubes are to be connected are opened directly on the curved portion of the U-shaped raw plate formed by the first bending step. Thereafter, the side portions of the U-shaped raw plate are bent inward to abut their terminal ends to each other. Since the connection holes are formed directly on the curved portion of the raw plate, the size and shape of a punch for opening the connection holes may be set to a size and shape corresponding to the size and shape of the end portions of the heat exchanger tubes. Thus, the desired connection holes can be formed easily and precisely. Even if a deformation occurs on the side portions of the U-shaped raw plate in the connection hole opening step, such a deformation can be corrected in a second bending step.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a pair of header pipes having connection holes, and flat tubes disposed between the header pipes and connected to the header pipes at their end portions. Each of the flat tubes has connecting portions at its end portions which are inserted into the connection holes. The connecting portions have a flow area substantially equal to the flow area of the central portion of the flat tube, and have a width smaller than the width of the central portion of the flat tube in the longitudinal direction of the cross section of the central portion of the flat tube. The connection holes may be small in the diameter direction of the header pipes; thus the diameter of the header pipes can be decreased. As a result, the amount of the used heat medium can be reduced. The flat tubes are easily assembled to a desired position merely by inserting the connecting portions into the connection holes.

Abstract: A heat exchanger is described which includes a plurality of flat tubes for conducting refrigerant and a plurality of corrugated fins fixedly sandwiched between the flat tubes. The flat tubes and the corrugated fins jointly form a heat exchange region. First and second header pipes are fixedly and hermetically connected to the flat tubes and communicate with the interior of the flat tubes. The header pipes are also provided with inlet and outlet pipes for connecting the heat exchanger to other external elements of an automotive air conditioning system. The inlet and outlet pipes protrude from opposite sides of the header pipes in the direction of thickness of the heat exchanger which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the flat tubes. One end of each of the inlet and outlet pipes is shaped so as to prevent interference with the ends of the flat tubes that are inserted into the interior of the header pipes.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a plurality of integrally assembled heat exchanger cores each comprising a pair of header pipes, a plurality of flat heat transfer tubes and a plurality of fins. A heat medium flows from an inlet tube connected to one of the header pipes to an outlet tube connected to another one of the header pipes through the plurality of heat exchanger cores communicating with one another. The heat transfer area of the head exchanger can be increased without increasing the diameters of its header pipes, to thereby increase the total heat exchange ability of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A heat exchanger is disclosed which comprises first and second cores aligned substantially parallel to each other in a horizontal arrangement. Each of the first and second cores includes a plurality of substantially parallel, spaced-apart, flat tubes disposed in a vertical arrangement. A plurality of corrugated fins are located in and extend through the spaces. First and second header pipes are connected to either end of the flat tubes of the first core to permit fluid flow. Third and fourth header pipes are connected to either end of the flat tubes of the second core to permit fluid flow. First and second plates are disposed on both upper and lower ends of said first and second cores to securedly affix them. Therefore, since the first and second cores for use as a condenser and a radiator can be manufactured with the same production process, the cost of manufacturing the heat exchanger is reduced.

Abstract: A heat exchanger is disclosed which comprises first and second cores aligned substantially parallel to each other in a horizontal arrangement. Each of the first and second cores includes a plurality of substantially parallel, spaced-apart, flat tubes disposed in a vertical arrangement. A plurality of corrugated fins are located in and extend through the spaces. First and second header pipes are connected to either end of the flat tubes of the first core to permit fluid flow. Third and fourth header pipes are connected to either end of the flat tubes of the second core to permit fluid flow. First and second plates are disposed on both upper and lower ends of said first and second cores to securedly affix them. Therefore, since the first and second cores for use as a condenser and a radiator can be manufactured with the same production process, the cost of manufacturing the heat exchanger is reduced.